Note One: All stitches should go in and come out the same distance back from the edge of the felt. When making an object that will be stuffed, about an eighth of an inch works well. If you are making an edging, use whatever length looks best. Also keep your stitches the same distance apart.

Take your knotted floss and go from the inside of the front layer through to the outside. The knot should be sandwiched between the two layers with your floss coming out of the front layer.

(2) Insert the needle to the left of where the floss is coming out of the front piece.

(3) Pull the floss through most of the way, then put your needle through the loop from the back to the front.

Pull the first stitch so it is a little loose. You will need the loose floss to complete the last stitch. See next image for reference.

(4) Insert the needle to the left of your last stitch.

(5) Pull the floss through most of the way, then put your needle through the loop from the back to the front. Pull this stitch (and all subsequent stitches) tight so the vertical bar is straight up and down.

Continue across using step 4 and 5.

(Corner 1) Make the last stitch before the corner so your needle goes in right where the inner corner of a square would be if you made a square from the corner. See inset in image for clarification.

(Corner 2) Insert needle into same place as last stitch.

(Corner 3) Complete stitch so that bar is diagonal from the needle insertion point to the corner.

(Corner 4) Insert needle into the same place as the last two stitches.

(Corner 5) Complete stitch so that the bar is perpendicular to the first corner stitch.

Continue across using step 4 and 5.

(6) Finish the last stitch before you need to join to the beginning.

(7) Place your needle under the vertical bar of the first stitch.

(8) Insert your needle in the back piece of felt so the tip comes out between the pieces of felt at the top (see next image for reference). Your needle should go in the back piece where the stitch would normally come out.

(9) This is the same step as the last one, just a different view to show you how the needle is going in through the back piece and coming out between the felt pieces at the top.

(10) Pull tight. This is why the first stitch needs to be a little loose, because it becomes a right angle in this step. The stitches should all look right now.

Place your needle under the back bar you just created and make a knot.

(11) This is the completed knot.

(12) Insert your needle between the felt pieces and have the end come out somewhere else on your piece. Pull the thread through and tug a little to bury your knot between the felt pieces.

(13) You're done!

How to start if you aren't going all the way around

(1) This is a technique I use when I'm doing just a little bit of blanket stitch, such as the bottom edge of this jellyfish.

Place the wrong-sides of the felt layers together.

Take your knotted floss and go from the inside of the front layer through to the outside. The knot should be sandwiched between the two layers with your floss coming out of the front layer.

(2) Insert your needle in the back piece of felt so the tip comes out between the pieces of felt at the top (see next image for reference).

If you are stitching the edging on a single piece of felt, put your needle through the starting knot in this stage.

(3) Pull the floss through to tighten stitch. The thread should be coming out from between the felt layers to the left of the stitch.

(4) Put your needle under the first stitch on from right to left.

(5) Pull the needle through. There is now a loop around the top of the first stitch.

(6) Continue blanket stitch according to instructions above (step 2). When you start the blanket stitch this way, the first stitch stays vertical.

Sewing an edging (and tips for round objects)

(1) Insert your needle from the back of the piece so it comes out the front.

(2) Insert the needle to the left of where the floss is coming out of the front piece.

(3) Pull the floss through most of the way, then put your needle through the loop from the back to the front.

Pull the first stitch so it is a little loose. You will need the loose floss to complete the last stitch.

If you are stitching around a circle, make this stitch VERY loose. You will need lots of extra floss to complete the last stitch.

(4) You will make your stitches following step 4 and 5 above. When stitching around a circle keep your stitches straight by holding the circle so your stitch is at the top and imagining your stitch continues down the circle through the center. The red arrow is your imagination.

(5) Here is the next stitch and it's blue imaginary arrow. See how the red and blue arrows cross in the center of the circle? All of your stitches should point toward the middle.

(6) Complete the edging by putting your needle under the vertical bar of the first stitch.

(7) Pull tight.

(8) On the back, put your needle through the initial knot.

(9) Make your final knot.

(10) You're done!

What to do if you run out of floss in the middle

(1) Knot your floss at the top of the last stitch.

(2) Insert your needle (threaded with knotted floss) into the knot you just made and pull until the new knot is against the knot you just made. Both should be hidden between the pieces of felt.

Lovely - such clear instructions! A question for you - how do you set up such nicely lit photo shoots? I'm anticipating the shorter days up ahead and am looking for a way to be able to take nice shots inside!

Another one of your great tutorials!You know, I always struggle how to do the second stitch, a funny thing as I basically know the blanket stitch well and have done many things with it, yet, the second stitch always is some challenge for me. So thanks for the nice picture of especially that one, I am confident it won't be forgotten again. Love the green cookie!!

You read my mind! Awesome (and spoooooky). My friend Sylvia was just asking how to do this exact thing, and I couldn't answer. Soon she and I will sit down with some needles and floss and felt and learn together, thanks to you.

Oh, I really needed this!! I have the cutest book ever of knitted stuffed animal patterns and there is a lot of felt and blanket stitched edging (elephant ears! squee!). I'd put them off because I was freaked out by the felt but not anymore! Thanks! :)

That is a terrific and very useful tutorial. I have always wondered how I should finish it off - I always have a funny last stitch that bugs me every time I look at it. As for having to add more thread -arg!Any more stuffy patterns coming out for Christmas?

What a great tutorial we all can use this one making felt items thank you so very much.hugs ginger

9/20/2008 1:46 AM

Veca said ...

Muchas gracias

10/15/2008 6:51 PM

Baby said ...

Hi Alice,

Greetings! Today, I was searching for a how-to on blanket stitches and ran across your blog. First, I would like to say you are super talented! I only wish one day I can create items as nice and imaginative as yours. Unlike yourself, I am a knitter (fairly new but not quite a beginner) and have never crocheted. However, I would like to pick your brain and believe my question is universal whether you knit or crochet.

This year against my better judgement, I have decided to venture out and make Christmas gifts. Also like yourself, I have very little free time because of my more than full-time job. So, I'm looking for quick projects. One idea I had was felted coasters. Up until 3 nights ago, I had never tried felting but decided to do some sample pieces for practice. The yarns I chose seemed to felt pretty good but the amount of what I call "frizzes" was outrageous. It looked like static and yarn combined. In your blanket stitch tutorial, your swatches look very smooth and the edges are so even. Did you do anything special to get rid of all the "fly aways"? Also, I'm assuming you cut the edges. Did you use regular sizes to do so?

Lastly, are there any other "quick" projects you can think of that people would enjoy and not just stuff in a drawer or give to someone else? :o)

Thanks in advance for your help! I really appreciate it!

Fellow craftswoman,

10/16/2008 3:26 PM

Mimi Wood said ...

Unbelievably and amazingly excellent. So clearly written and photographed. I felt like you did it for me!! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!

Awesome directions! I just taught myself and my daughters - ages 10 and 6 - how to blanket stitch w/ these directions. I can now confidently teach my Girl Scout Junior troop how to blanket stitch while they earn the sewing badge. We used blunt-end needles from my cross-stitch projects. They go through the felt very easily and no one gets hurt by the sharp end.

12/2/2008 8:13 PM

Kari said ...

I just came across this yesterday as I began trying to make a felt Christmas tree and ornaments for my 1 year old. Your help was priceless! I was able to figure out the blanket stitch, how to get around corners (plenty on a Christmas tree!), and adding in more thread! I still have a lot more to go and this is a first for me, but I'm excited and you helped me! Thanks for the great step by steps.

12/3/2008 11:27 AM

Julie Ousley said ...

I should have come here first...now the question is should I start over and re-do the jellyfish I did first, or should I keep it as a reminder to check out futuregirl FIRST?!!

Thank you! I posted a link to this tutorial on my blog after posting about the first thing I made out of felt.http://nerdymoments.blogspot.com

1/3/2009 7:42 PM

Bon said ...

I knew I had learned this as a youngster and for the life of me could not remember how once I inserted the needle into my son's birthday banner to sew on candle #4 (my mother-in-law usually does the candle each year and this year she was not in town). Yours is the first site I visited and the photos and instructions are super. Thanks.

1/18/2009 12:21 AM

Erin said ...

Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial! I am making a double-layer fleece baby blanket for a relative's baby and I was at a loss with the blanket stitch. But it looks great, thanks to you and your detailed blog! THANKS!!!!!

Erin

2/6/2009 8:50 PM

Ana said ...

Great tutorial! And the pictures are perfect. Thank you for the help! P.S: Will send you some pics of my finished work ;)

I have just started a sewing project that involves felt and floss. Is there a right kind of needle or floss to get through 2 layers of felt? I have to tug so hard to get the eye of the needle with the floss through the 2 layers. I've worn leather gloves in order to avoid putting so much pressure on my fingers by adding a bit of friction.

2/18/2009 12:30 PM

Jennifer said ...

This is so great! I can't wait to try it out. This is exactly what I need! THANKS! :)

This is the best website I came across surfing on the web. Have already got my felt squares and floss today and am about to start making my own starfish! will post the pic when i finish! Thanks so much!! :):)

6/26/2009 1:52 PM

sbc said ...

Thanks for putting up the tutorial. I was right in the middle of trying to sew a project that required a blanket stitch around a circle. I could not for the life of me figure it out until after I read your explanation. You did a great job of explaining it!

Very nice and helpfull your tutorial with the felt.come and have a look on my blog and leave me your comment about what you think.I'm going to use your tutorial because I have some ideas to do with felt.Soniahttp://scrapcowando.blogspot.com

I arrived at your blog through a link at refugeecrafter.com. Thank you for your clear tutorial, the pictures make it really easy to follow. My blanket stitch is looking a lot neater now. So much so that I am using it for another project. This project is much longer so can you advise me how to continue on blanket stitch when you start a new piece of thread. Thanks.

I really appreciated this post! I made a blanket for my cousin's new baby that will be coming. I posted about it and used two of your photos with credit to you. I hope this was okay. Check out my post and pick up my "featured" button for your website! Have a great day!!! http://honeybeebzz.blogspot.com/2009/10/blanket-stitch.html

10/30/2009 10:53 AM

George said ...

Great site - perfect for beginners like me - off to make stockings now for the kids for Christmas. Thanks again

11/11/2009 1:28 PM

Katia said ...

I really found your tutorial wonderful and helpful!! I know once I start making felt food for my daughters I will not have any trouble with my stitching. Which brings me to my question. I'm not sure what tools to purchase, i.e. thread, needles, type of felt? Would you have any suggestions? Greatly appreciated!!!

11/17/2009 12:34 AM

Salvora said ...

Hello

Thanks for this tutorial, it's very clear.

I have seen pieces of felt that have this sticht around the edges (just like here) and are attached to bigger pieces of felt (as applique): for instance, a heart inside a bigger heart. How's that done? How's the small piece attached to the bigger one? It can't be done with this particular sticht, can it? I'd looking for a tutorial for that!

Katia ... Thanks for the sweet comment! :) I use cheap acrylic felt, DMC embroidery floss, and needles I've had since high school. Nothing fancy. :) If you have a lot of supplies to choose from, get a little of everything and experiment. That's what I do. :)

Wow! What a great tutorial with clear and easy to follow pictures. I've never stitched anything before but fancied trying my hand at a felt owl and now you've made it possible... it's looking good already!

Carmen ... That is totally hilarious! :) Most of my google search traffic (5 of my top 10 search terms) include "blanket stitch." Seriously. People need to get their blanket stitch ON. ;)

I know how you feel about seeing me in the search results, too. Every time I do an image search for macrame my little mini owl shows up in the results and I think, "Come on, people! We need more macrame online!"

8/10/2010 12:28 AM

craftmonkey said ...

this looks great and now i can try and see if i can master the art too, the tute is so clear thanks so much, got so many project i want to rty with felt and now i can!

aceness. i just posted a tutorial for making a wee treasure bag and your blanket stitching guide is way better than anything i could have shot or written. i've linked to you in said tutorial - hope you don't mind? check it out - http://guildmaker.blogspot.com/2010/11/wee-felt-treasure-bag-tutorial.html

I'm a new user of wool felt for my quilting projects and since I don't do hand applique I had no idea how to do the blanket stitch or put together two pieces of felt, so I was thrilled to find this page! A google search brought me here and I need not look any further because you've done a wonderful job with this tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing it!

elsie ... Your sewing skill is the best assurance. :) You could use something, like a piece of paper, to measure in between each stitch to help you space them evenly. Try practicing for a bit. Practice makes perfect.

11/12/2010 11:22 AM

Stacey said ...

Thank you so much for the tutorial. It was incrediably easy to follow.

Hello,I have studied your tutorial and read the comments several times....Your tutorial was fabulous. I am making about 20 felt mittens that are two pieces of felt.

The mittens have a roll down cuff. The edge of the cuff that would be closer to the finger tips will have a blanket stitch from one side to the other and then the whole mitten will be blanket stitched all the way around, but open where you would put your hand to place a small piece of scroll....

The question....How do you end your stitching when you are on one piece of felt?...We are talking about an inch and a quarter in length of stitching and then I need to finish it off so that I can stitch up the other mitten piece and then stitch the two together.

Hello, I do not know if my last comment went through. Your tutorials have been very helpful...I am just missing the one bit of information...How do you finish your stitching when you don't go all the way around to the starting point. I am doing the blanket stitch for about an inch and a quarter on a straight side. Is there a specific way to finish the last stitch?

Melissa D. SC ... Sorry it took me so long to reply. :) See the "What to do if you run out of floss in the middle" section. Just knot your floss at the top of the last stitch you made and hide the thread end. Cake. :)

This was a REALLY useful tutorial for me. Thank you! I posted a link to it from my blog just now! http://winkydinks.blogspot.com/2010/12/handmade-felt-ornaments.html

12/9/2010 3:59 PM

heather said ...

thanks for this useful tutorial. your photos and explanations are super!

12/10/2010 10:32 AM

Chelsea said ...

Thank you so much! This was really helpful.

12/10/2010 4:10 PM

Jessica said ...

Thank you so much for such a detailed tutorial! It really has been so helpful to me.. I was wondering though, are there any other types of threads that you would recommend for these types of stitches when using felt? I have a large quantity of yarn, and I was wondering if I could use this to create a blanket stitch around the edge of a felt pillow. if so what type of needle would you recommend? thanks!

Jessica ... If you can pull the yarn through the felt, then it'll work. Some felt is really dense, and it wouldn't be easy to pull yarn through it. You can use any needle that you can thread the yarn in. There aren't any rules. Play around and see what works for you. :)

Thank you so much for your tutorials! This one and the whip stitch ones were so incredibly helpful to me. After searching high and low for how to stitch felt, your tutorials were the best. I've linked you on my upcoming blog posts. Hope you don't mind.

I'm so happy I found your website! Am a beginner sewer and all the tutorials on felts have helped me so much :) thank you!!

6/19/2011 5:37 AM

Ana Luísa said ...

Hello, I just know a few words in English, I´m from Portugal, and I really liked very much yours website! You have so many amazing things! I really fell very inspired! Thanks for teach all these fantastic craftwork!

6/26/2011 3:33 PM

Leslie G said ...

THANK YOU for adding the part about running out of floss midway through.... ;) FANTASTIC tutorial!

thnk u so mush .this toturial help me a lot to start m cfart.tq for sharing

7/29/2011 9:57 PM

elizabeth said ...

really good tutorial! Im just starting to learn to sew i've never sewn at all before & the instructions were really easy to follow. i understood everything quite well. the pictures were really helpful too. i would recommend this site to anyone wanting to learn these stitches.

Thank you soooo much for your easy to follow tutorial! I am sewing little felt bird ornaments, and struggle to figure out how to start. Once I get going, its good. Thank you also for showing how to do the corners. :-D

Janine said it all for me! I teach little girls how to sew and have always struggled with beginning, starting a new thread and ending this stitch. Now our finished projects will have a much more professional touch! Thank you so very much!!!

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have been wanting to learn this stitch for so long. I watched a couple of youtube clips, but your tutorial is the best by far far far. I have bookmarked your site and will be coming back for more.

Thanks for this great tutorial!!! I used it to create these really cute Christmas felt sugar cookies for Santa. Which you can see here: http://homemadeglamour.blogspot.com/

11/24/2011 12:29 AM

Cathye said ...

Thank you so much for your lesson on the blanket stitch. I just follwed each step and now have my first hand-sewn ornament for the Christmas tree! I am so proud and couldn't have done it without your clear directions and photos. Thanks again!

12/22/2011 8:38 PM

sumone said ...

thanx.it really help me!!

12/24/2011 5:31 PM

Spiritquen said ...

Wonderful! Thank you for the step by step instructions. You did a fabulous job with your explanations and photos!

12/29/2011 9:17 AM

Clarisse said ...

Hi Alice,Thanks a lot for this post, it is exactly what I needed! Greeting from Brazil!

Great job! I just stashed your site in my favorites so I can refer to it over and over. Thank you!!

1/10/2012 9:00 PM

Marisa rechenberg said ...

Thanks for the precious tips! Im still struggling with the joining knots to start a new Floss thing, but i have so many pieces to add a finishing to, that im sure i'll be ok until #30 :)

1/21/2012 7:50 PM

Tracey said ...

oh Thank you so much for the blanket stitch lesson, i had a bit of a mind blank and cound'nt remember how to start or finish stitching. i have put you on my favorites. now going to look at the rest of your blog !!

Thank you for this great tutorial. I have looked at several but none gave the two pieces and the single item directions. The instructions are precise and clear and the photos make a world of difference! Pinned. :)

Hi Futuregirl! Love the site!I have been scouring the internet trying to figure out the recommended method for stitching together two thick (1/2" or thicker) pieces of felt edge to edge, with no luck. I'm planning to cover my desk in felt, but it's too big to use one piece, and I can't have a thick seem running down the middle of the desk. Do you have any recommendations?

8/21/2012 7:25 AM

Sheila said ...

I repeat the above sentiments. This is fantastic. I have pinned it to my Pinterest. I always wondered how to start a new piece of thread when I ran out. No directions ever taught that. Thank you SO much for this wonderful set of instructions.

8/23/2012 3:45 AM

Bobilein said ...

Hey, you are really good at teaching. I've started a craft class with a few kids and this tutorial will be really helpful, having in mind I'm planning to sew bags for our yarns and hooks, I mean kids to sew themselves. Many, many thans!BorislavaLesnovo, Bulgaria

Oh goodness! This is exactly what I needed to see today. A google search for blanket stitch, and here I am and such lovely instructions! I've been wanting to know how to do this for ages...thanks so much for posting. :)

10/8/2012 12:39 PM

Nicole said ...

Just wanted to say thanks for this tutorial, very simple and edgy to use! Much appreciated.

10/9/2012 2:57 AM

Sheila said ...

I searched all over the web to learn the blanket stitch. When I found your site, I was truly amazed! This tutorial is excellent. I will be checking in often to see what's new!

Thank you for this great tutorial! I was trying to clean the cobwebs off of some 23 year old memories on how to do this!! This was very helpful!

11/1/2012 7:25 PM

Debra said ...

Hello! Wanted to thank you so much for this site. I had a stroke a few years ago and have trouble grasping things and pictures are a big help to me. I pull this up and look at it as I stitch. Thanks again for your help! God bless!

Thank you so much for this very comprehensive tutorial! I started on my own and it was going all right, but your tutorial gave me great tips and confidence to finish my reindeer ornament with quality. I hope it's ok that I shared your tutorial at my blog. I posted a link to your site. It's just so helpful! Thanks again!

Blanket stitch is one of those techniques I use every so often and forget how to do in between. I was struggling to recall how to start, knowing I have the instruction in an embroidery book somewhere, but where, when I thought to Google 'blanket stitch' and up came these lucid, logical, beautifully photographed instructions. Blessings on you, the www and Google.

Annie ... Oh my goodness, you are too sweet! Thank you for the amazing comment. Blessings on you, too.

12/18/2012 1:09 AM

Jessica said ...

I am a beginner in sewing felt and I didn't know what to do when I ran out of thread in the middle until I found your tutorial. It's well explained and you can understand the instructions easily. A very helpful tutorial. Thank you, thank you so much for this. Regards from Spain!

Hi there. Thanks for such a great tutorial. I have linked this to my blog post on making coasters from felted wool sweaters. They are finished with a blanket stitch. http://diaryofamadmama.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/diy-homemade-felt-coasters/Thanks!~Jen

Thank you very much for this awesome tutorial! This is by far the easiest step-by-step craft I've ever seen, and I'm grateful for the pictures that go along with the sewing instructions because I'm NOT experienced in sewing. :)

Wow this is a fab tutorial and one I used last night to hand sew a felt crown for my daughters 2nd birthday

5/17/2013 1:16 AM

Alison said ...

Awesome tutorial. Thanks!

5/18/2013 6:14 PM

Kandi said ...

Very helpful. I'm been working on felt Xmas tree ornaments and knew i was doing something wrong-i had the stitch backwards. I've been teaching high-school kids how to make things using embroidery stitches.

11/10/2013 9:03 PM

Kathryn said ...

Thank you so much for the tutorial. I always come back to it whenever I need to blanket stitch something. I keep running into the same problem though. Whenever I run out of floss and try to put the needle of knotted, new floss through the old knot, it unties the knot from the old thread. Does this happen to you? Do you do a special kind of knot? I was trying not to double knot to keep the knot concealed better, but I think I'll have to, regardless, unless you know what I'm doing wrong. Again, my appreciation - I love sewing felt and the blanket stitch is adorable.

Kathryn ... I do not have the problem with my original knot unraveling. Here is the method I use for knotting http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/my_favorite_knot/index.html If you're using this method already, maybe wrap your thread around the needle a couple more times to give your knot some bulk.

I want to thank you for your whip stitch and blanket stitch tutorial. The start and finish are just great. In all my embroidiery books of stitches, I have never seen a how to on that. I really appreciate it. The start and stop of my stitches are now going to please me so much more. Again thank you and I plan to share this with my embroidery stitching friends.

Judy ... Thank you for taking the time to leave such a great comment! I appreciate it. :) It's great to know that my tutorial is helpful

1/18/2015 8:12 PM

Kathryn T. said ...

I have been struggling with getting the blanket stitch going on my wool felt projects, and trying not to cuss in front of the kids. I think your tutorial will be exactly what I need to end the frustration. Thank you!

Quick question: if I'm doing a two-sided polyester blanket (by hand, not machine), and I've blanket stitched three sides, turned it inside-out, how do I continue sewing the final side without the thread showing? Is it inevitable? Or do I just sew it with stitches out? Could you provide a visual, since I'm awful at descriptive tutorials? Thanks a bunch!

Shannon ... Blanket stitch is a decorative stitch meant to be on the outside of your work. I can't imagine a way to do it with your work inside out so that it doesn't show.

If you stitch something together while it's inside out, then turn it outside right before you close it up, then you would use blind stitch (also called ladder stitch) to finish the edge without your stitches showing. Good tutorial for that here http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2013/02/sew-a-pillow-closed-by-hand-blind-ladder-stitch.html